Fire plow attachment for a crawler type tractor



July 4, 1961 c. B. NOBLIN 2,990,632

FIRE PLOW ATTACHMENT FOR A CRAWLER TYPE TRACTOR Filed June 15, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 4,1961

c. B. NOBLlN 2,990,632

FIRE PLOW ATTACHMENT FOR A CRAWLER TYPE TRACTOR Filed June 13, 1958 2 Sheets-Shae} 2 Fig.3

22 54 A 24 54 F/g.5 2a a? a4 5 32 44 Conn/e B Nab/II? INVENTOR. 36 42 42 a 40 34 HY Q V 38 andfiawyfim United States Patent 2,990,632 FIRE PLOW ATTACHMENT FOR A CRAWLER TYPE TRACTOR Connie B. Noblin, Ackerman, (3560 Terry Road, Jackson, Miss.) Filed June 13, 1958, Ser. No. 741,912 6 Claims. (CI. 37-98) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fire fighting equipment, and more specifically to an improved fire plow attachment for crawler type tractors.

In order to control forest fires and fires through opening areas, it is necessary that there be established and maintained fire lines. These fire lines are lines several feet wide from which all vegetation and burnable matter have been removed. By establishing such lines, the spread of fire is greatly retarded. However, heretofore the establishing of such fire lines has been costly and therefore limited. It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a fire plow attachment which will establish the desired fire line, the plow being of such a nature whereby it may be moved by a conventional crawler type tractor. Another object of this invention is to provide an improved fire plow attachment for crawler type tractors, the fire plow attachment being of such a nature whereby it may be pushed in advance of the tractor and which will not only remove debris and vegetation from the fire line being established, but will also cut down small trees in advance of the tractor.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved fire plow attachment for tractors, the fire plow attachment being so constructed whereby it may be moved to the left or right relative to the tractor during the travel of the tractor so that the fire plow may be guided about obstacles and at the same time maintain the desired fire line.

Still another object of this invention is tov provide an improved fire plow attachment for tractors, 'the fire plow attachment having the depth thereof regulated by means of a drum which engages the ground and supports the frame of the fire plow, and there being associated with the drum a rolling coulter which will out small debris which would normally cause the plow of the fire plow to malfunction.

p A further object of this invention is to provide improved fire plow for clearing a fire line, the fire plow invance of the remainder of the fire plow and there being a clearing plow which will scrape and turn the ground rearwardly of the nose so as to remove all foreign matter from the fire line beingestablished, the clearing plow being provided with ya lower horizontal blade for the pur pose of cutting oif small trees and the like.

These together with other objects and advantages which Will become subsequently apparent reside in the details, of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing a conventional type of crawler tractor which has secured thereto the fire plow attachment which is the subject of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front view of the fire plow attachment of FIGURE 1 and shows the specific details thereof, the tractor being shown in phantom lines;

v eluding a nose for removing debris including logslin ad- 2,990,632 Patented July 4, 1961 FIGURE 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the fire plow attachment and shows the means for steering the fire plow attachment with respect to the tractor, the tractor having a forward portion thereof shown in phantom lines;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view with portions thereof broken away in order to illustrate the specific details of the connection between the main beam of the fire plow and the yoke of the tractor, there also being illustrated the details of the scraper for the disk coulter; and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 4 and shows further the details of the rolling drum and the disk coulter.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a conventional type of crawler tractor which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 10. The crawler tractor 10 has connected thereto as an accessory a yoke or 6- frame 12 which is pivotally mounted to the frame of the tractor 10 by means of transverse horizontal pivot pins 14. Extending upwardly from the yoke 12 at each side thereof is a frame 16'to which there is connected an extensible hydraulic motor 18 for the purpose of raising and lowering the yoke 12. The tractor 10 will also be provided with protective framework 20 to protect the operating mechanism thereof as well as the operator thereof.

Secured to the forward end of the tractor 10 for movement in advance thereof is the fire plow attachment which is the subject of this invention, the fire plow attachment being referred to in general by the reference numeral 22. The fire plow attachment 22, as is best shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, includes a horizontally disposed longitudinally extending main beam 24 which is provided at the rear end thereof with a vertical pivot pin 26 which pivotally connects the fire plow attachment 22 to the forward central part of the yoke 12 in order that the fire plow attachment 22 may be steered relative to the tractor 10.

- Secured to the underside of the main beam 24 in depending relation is a yoke which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 28. The yoke 28 includes a horizontal portion 30 and depending legs 32. The legs 32 are provided with vertically adjustable bearings 34 which are disposed in opposed relation and which have supported therein a shaft 36 of a ground engaging rolling drum 38. The drum 38 serves to support the forward part of the main beam 24 and thus support the forward part of the fire plow attachment 22. It is to be understood that the yoke 12 supports the rear part of the fire plow attachment 22 by supporting the rear end of the main beam 24.

Secured to the center of the rolling drum 38 is a disk coulter 40. The purpose of the disk coulter 40 will be explained in detail hereinafter. Secured to the horizontal portion 30 of the yoke 28 on opposite sides of the disk coulter 40 are scraper blades 42 which engage the outer surface of the drum 38 and keep it clean at all times. Extending between the blades 42 is a cleaner 44 for the disk coulter 40. The cleaner 44, like the blades 42, is of the scraper type.

In order that the debris may be cleared from the fire lane being formed by the fire plow attachment 22 in advance of the rolling drum 38, there is provided a nose which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 46. The nose 46 includes a vertical nose member 48 which is secured to the forward end of the main beam 24 in depending relation. Extending rearwardly and outwardly from the forward edge of the nose member 48 are nose plates 50. The nose plates 50 are disposed in diverging relation and serve to move debris to opposite sides of the fire plow attachment 22. The nose member 48 has secured to the lower end thereof a frontal nose piece 52 whose configuration is best illustrated in FIGURE 4 and whose purpose is to lift and turn logs and the like so that they may be engaged by the nose plates 50' and moved to one side of the fire plow attachment 22.

It will be seen that the nose plates 50 serve to brace the yoke 28. The yoke 28 is further braced by means of gusset plates 54 which overlie the horizontal portion 30 and which are secured to opposite sides of the main beam 24, as is best shown in FIGURE 3.

Disposed immediately rearwardly of the rolling drum 38 is a clearing plow which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 56. The clearing plow 56 will also serve to turn the ground slightly inasmuch as it is intended to provide a scraping action to remove all vegetation from the surface of the fire line. The clearing plow 56 is of the V-shaped type and includes a pair of blades 58 which extend rearwardly in diverging relation and which intersect at their forward edges in a centrally lo cated cutting edge 60 which is aligned with the disk coulter 40. The blades 58 are also provided at the forward and lower edges thereof with removable blade sections 62 which have forwardly disposed cutting edges 64. Ihe cutting edges 64 are of such a nature whereby they will shear off small diameter trees.

Extending outwardly from the rear portion of the main beam 24 and connected to upper edges of the plow blades 58 are reinforcing plates 66. Extending upwardly from the reinforcing plates 66 is a frame structure 68 which is of a protective nature. The frame structure 68 is generally V-shaped in elevation, as is illustrated in FIG- URE 2, so as to direct small trees and debris to opposite sides of the tractor 10.

In order that the fire plow attachment 22 may be steered, there is carried by the yoke 12 at one side of the forward portion thereof a mounting plate 70. The mounting plate 70 has mounted thereon a hydraulic motor of the extensible type, the hydraulic motor being referred to by the reference numeral 72 and being of the double acting type. The hydraulic motor 72 includes a cylinder 74 which has connected to opposite end portions thereof hydraulic lines 76 and 78. The hydraulic lines 76 and 78 will be connected to the usual hydraulic system of the tractor 10.

The hydraulic motor 72 also includes an elongated piston rod 80 which has the forward end thereof connected to a bracket 82 secured to the associated one of the plates 66 by means of a vertical pivot pin 84. By extending or retracting the piston rod 80, which is shown in a neutral position in solid lines in FIGURE 3, the fire plow attachment 22 may be turned relative to the tractor so that it may move around an object in the path of the fire lane and thus turn as desired.

'In the operation of the fire plow attachment 22, the frontal nose piece 52engages logs, including those partially buried, and moves them to one side of the nose 46. The logs and other debris are then engaged by the nose platesSt) and moved to one side of the fire plow attachment 22.

Next the disk coulter 40 rolls along the ground and cuts small debris in advanceof the rolling drum 38. That debris which the disk coulter 40 cannot cut will cause the disk coulter 40 to lift up and rise over the debris and thus prevent the cutting edges 64 of the plow 56 from engaging such debris. Under normal circumstances the rolling drum 38 will regulate the height of the clearing plow 56. The clearing plow 56 will then scrape the ground so as to remove vegetation and cut off small trees and the like. The clearing plow thus will complete the fire line.

By placing the fire plow attachment in advance of the tractor 10, not only does it do the desired clearing job without the tractor 10 having to pass over the uncleared area, but also it is so positioned whereby the operator of the tractor 10 can view the clearing operation at all times. This is highly desirable inasmuch as the fire line must be properly maintained.

In order that the hydraulic motor 72 may be protected, there is provided a suitable framework 86 on the yoke 12. The framework 86 is disposed in the vicinity of the hydraulic motor 72 and projects upwardly therefrom. It is pointed out that such framework as is necessary for the protection of the working components of the tractor, the fire plow attachment and the operator of the tractor will be provided.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fire plow attachment for vehicles, said fire plow attachment comprising a longitudinally extending frame including a forward end, a forward portion, a rear portion and a rear end, said frame including a longitudinally extending main beam mounted for pivoting about a vertical axis, a depth gauge functioning frame supporting ground engaging roller secured to the forward portion of said main beam, hitch means at said rear end for connecting said fire plow attachment to a vehicle in pushed supported relation, a debris clearing nose at said frame forward end, and a ground turning and clearing plow secured to said rear portion rearwardly of said ground engaging roller, a roller disk type coulter carried by said drum for rotation therewith to cut debris and to elevate said frame and said plow when said coulter engages debris which it cannot cut, said ground turning and clearing plow having a cutting edge aligned with said rolling disk type coulter, said nose including a frontal nose piece for lifting and moving logs to one side, said frontal nose piece being aligned with said rolling disk type coulter and said plow cutting edge.

2. A fire plow attachment for vehicles, said fire plow attachment comprising a longitudinally extending frame including a forward end, a forward portion, a rear portion and a rear end, a depth gauge functioning frame supporting ground engaging roller secured to said frame forward portion, hitch means at said rear end for connecting said fire plow attachment to a vehicle in pushed supported relation, a debris clearing nose at said frame forward end, and a ground turning and clearing plow secured to said rear portion rearwardlyof said ground engaging roller, a roller disk type coulter carried by said drum for rotation therewith to cut debris and to elevate said frame and said plow when said coulter engages debris which it cannot cut, said ground turning and clearing plow having a cutting edge aligned with said rolling disk type coulter, said nose including a frontal nose piece for lifting and moving logs to one side, said frontal nose piece being aligned with said rolling disk type coulter and said plow cutting edge, said hitch means including a yoke, transverse horizontal pivots on said yoke for mounting said yoke for movement in a vertical plane, a vertical pivot pin connecting said frame rear end to said yoke, and brace means between said yoke and said frame retaining said frame in the desired angular position relative to said yoke, said brace means being in the form of an extensible fluid m t r. i i

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said hitch means includes a yoke, transverse horizontal pivots on said yoke for mounting said yoke for movement in a vertical plane, and motor means disposed between said yoke and said frame for pivoting said frame about said vertical axis.

4. The combination of claim 3 including scraper blades mounted immediately adjacent to said ground engaging roller.

5. The combination of claim 2 including scraper blades 10 portion of said main beam, said ground engaging roller 15 rotatably supported in said inverted U-shaped yoke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Crossley Feb. 16, Cornelius July 5, Linkogel Jan. 13, Phoenix Dec. 7, Wills Oct. 2, Aust Aug. 18, Shald Jan. 28, Lahar Apr. 29, Domries Sept. 23,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 10,

Germany July 15, 

